MANILA, Philippines – Rodrigo Duterte dispelled rumors that he might take on another vice-presidential running mate depending on political party PDP-Laban’s decision.

Asked who his running mate would be on the sidelines of a November 29 concert in Taguig, he said, “Alan Peter Cayetano. Committed na ako. Isang salita lang ako. (I am committed. I stick to one word.)”

Duterte is running for president under PDP-Laban. The party has given him his blessing to take the slot of their previous presidential bid who later on withdrew his candidacy. 

But they have yet to greenlight Cayetano as Duterte’s running mate. 

“Saka na ang vice president (Let's see later who is the vice presidential candidate). Step by step,” said party president Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III last Friday, November 27. 

Duterte had previously said he would have to consult the party first about Cayetano.

But on Sunday, the Davao City mayor said that his choice of Cayetano is final. 

“They will have to accept my choice. That is the prerogative of the candidate. Usually, it is we who choose our running mate,” he told reporters.

Duterte filed his candidacy for president through a representative last Friday. Comelec is expected to announce the final list of who can run for president in 2016. (READ: #AnimatED: The candidacy of Rodrigo Duterte)

But questions remain whether an error in the Certificate of Candidacy of PDP-Laban’s initial presidential bet, Martin Diño, will endanger Duterte’s candidacy. A petition to nullify Diño’s candidacy  – and thus make Duterte’s substitution void – has been filed with the Comelec. (READ: EXPLAINER: Can Duterte run for president?) 

Despite this, PDP-Laban is set to declare Duterte as their presidential candidate on Monday, November 30. 

Cayetano has been invited to the declaration, according to the senator’s staff. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Far from shying away from criticism of his womanizing, Rodrigo Duterte gave a vivid account of his exploits during a concert on Sunday, November 29, in Taguig City.

“Kung sabihin ninyo, ‘Ano bang credentials mo? Ano bang pakita mo sa Pilipinas, Duterte? Balita namin babaero ka.’ Tama. May asawa ako, may pangalawang asawa ako,” he told thousands of supporters. 

(If you ask me, ‘What are your credentials? What can you show the Philippines? We heard you are a womanizer.’ That’s correct. I have a wife, I have a second wife.) 

He said his second wife is a nurse from Bulacan whom he impregnated during his frequent trips to the United States when he was still a congressman.

Duterte also shared that aside from two wives, he has two girlfriends.

“Dalawa ang girlfriend ko. Gusto niyo ako maging presidente? Kailangan niyo malaman ang pagkatao ko." 

(I have two girlfriends. You want me for president? You need to know who I really am.)

The younger of the two works in the cosmetics department of a mall in Davao City. The other is a cashier. Of her he said, “Medyo matanda na pero mas maganda (A bit older but she’s more beautiful).”

'Short time' only 

Duterte emphasized that he doesn’t spend government money in order to take care of his girlfriends. (READ: 22 things to know about 'Duterte Harry')

In fact, he joked that he can only afford to give them a rented room in a boarding house that costs P1,500 a month.

Duterte also said his younger girlfriend wanted him to get her a secondhand car from Honda since he's close to the owner of the Davao City branch. 

But the mayor thumbed down the request: “Sabi ko ‘wag na. Tutal ano naman ang biyahe natin sa buhay nating dalawa? Sunduin kita doon sa boarding house mo, pasok tayo ng motel, short time lang naman.” 

(I said, no more. What are the trips we take anyway? I just pick you up from your boarding house, we go inside a motel, it’s only ‘short time.’) 

Duterte elaborated further, saying that at 70 years old, he can no longer perform as well in bed.

“Noon nung bata pa ako, overnight, medyo magastos yun. Noong matanda na ako, short time, kasi napaka-short na talaga ang panahon ko. Pagkatapos ng isang kilat ‘yun na ‘yun. No more. Kung walang Viagra, hirap pa.”

(When I was young, I could do overnight, which is more expensive. When I got old, I could do 'short time' only because I have such a short time left. After one erection, that’s it. No more. Without Viagra, it’s even more difficult.)

Getting elected into the Palace won't stop him from entertaining women.

"Buksan ko ang libro ng Malacañang. Kung may magagandang naghihintay diyan sa labas, buksan ko 'yung pinto ng kwarto ko," he said.

(I will open all the books of Malacañang. If there are beautiful women waiting outside, I will open the door to my room.)

Objectifying women?

His candor was greeted with cheers from the crowd who had endured hours of waiting just to see him. Many among the crowd were women. 

But not everyone found him amusing. 

On social media, some netizens reacted negatively to his statements.

“Ugh!!!!!” said @katpadi as she reacted to this reporter’s tweet on Duterte opening his bedroom door in Malacañang to beautiful women.

To the same tweet, @tricialogy said “PUTANG INA????? ITO YUNG GUSTO NIYO????" (Son of a bitch???? This is who you want????)

Reacting to Duterte’s statements about renting out boarding house rooms for his girlfriends, @imlosingmyky said: “Sobrang bastos niyo po at baba ng tingin sa babae. Mahiya ka naman po kahit konti.” (You are so insulting and condescending to women. Be embarrassed, even just a bit.)

Duterte has never hesitated to show his fondness for women.

During public events, he never fails to “flirt” with a female member of the audience. He has jokingly proposed marriage to reporters and has asked for kisses on the cheek from supporters. 

Asked about criticism for such behavior, Duterte told reporters after the concert: “That would not deter me. That's my happiness. If you don’t want me as president because I have 4 or 5 women, then you vote for one of the other candidates.”

Yet he is also known for his gender-sensitive policies in Davao City.

Women's rights advocate Irene Santiago has told Rappler's Maria Ressa that Duterte has done much to empower women in his hometown.

For one, Duterte was a staunch supporter of the Reproductive Health Bill while it languished in Congress. Under his leadership, Davao City Hall started providing free contraceptives to women in 2012.

Recently, posts containing supposed statements of his first wife, Elizabeth Zimmerman, saying Duterte's womanizing destroyed their marriage, have been circulating on social media.

Though a Rappler report confirms she filed for annulment on these grounds, Zimmerman has dismissed the social media posts, saying she and Duterte remain friends.– Rappler.com

PARIS, France – World leaders launch a whirlwind day of talks in the French capital on Monday, November 30, aimed at forging an elusive agreement to stave off calamitous global warming.

The summit kicks off nearly a fortnight of talks intended to end two decades of international bickering with a pact that would limit emissions of the greenhouse gases blamed for climate change.

Negotiators have vowed to forge an ambitious deal to honor the 130 people killed in the November 13 bombing and shooting attacks that shook the French capital.

Minutes after touching down in Paris, US President Barack Obama joined his French counterpart Francois Hollande to lay flowers at the Bataclan concert hall, the site of the worst of the bloodshed.

Scientists warn that unless action is taken soon mankind will endure ever-worsening catastrophic events, such as droughts that will lead to conflict and rising sea levels that will wipe out low-lying island nations.

"We have to decide how we will be living together on this planet," French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, who is also the president of the UN-brokered talks, said Sunday as he appealed to negotiators for compromise.

About 150 leaders will be in Paris on Monday for the first day of the talks, having accepted an invitation from the French hosts aimed at injecting much-needed political momentum into the tortuous negotiations.

The United Nations has been hosting annual summits to tackle the vexed global warming issue since 1995, but all previous efforts have foundered, primarily due to deep divisions between rich and poor nations.

Several battle line issues are still yet to be resolved.

Many poor nations insist rich countries bear the most responsibility for tackling the problem, because they have burnt the most fossil fuels since the Industrial Revolution on their way to prosperity.

But the United States and other developed nations insist more must be done by China, India and other emerging countries, which are burning increasing amounts of coal to power their fast-growing economies.

Potential stumbling blocks in Paris range from finance for climate vulnerable and poor countries, to scrutiny of commitments to curb greenhouse gases and even the legal status of the accord.

'No planet B'

Still, important progress has been made ahead of the meeting. One of the key successes has been a process in which 183 nations have submitted voluntary action plans on how they would tackle global warming.

While not nearly enough, UN climate chief Christiana Figueres said these provide the architecture for more ambitious efforts that could eventually limit global warming to less than 2ºC (3.6ºF) from pre-Industrial Revolution levels.

Two degrees C is the threshold at which scientists say the worst impacts of global warming will be inevitable.

The US and France said 20 countries will also pledge on Monday to double their investments in clean energy.

To pressure world leaders into putting aside their differences and forging an agreement, more than half a million people participated in climate protests around the world over the weekend.

"There is no planet B" and "Our Children Need a Future" read placards held by some of the 50,000 people who turned out in London's Hyde Park, in scenes replicated across the world.

"The charge from the streets for leaders to act on climate has been deafening, with record numbers turning out across the world," said Emma Ruby-Sachs, campaign director for Avaaz, one of the organizers.

French authorities had banned protests in Paris due to security fears following the terror attacks claimed by the Islamic State group.

But in a show of defiance against the militants and determination to have their voices heard on climate change, thousands of people in Paris gathered to create a 2-kilometer (1.2-mile) human chain.

Their stand was disrupted, however, when a band of anti-capitalist militants infiltrated the protests, leading to clashes with riot police which saw close to 300 people arrested.

Still, the Paris attacks appeared to have galvanized many world leaders in their determination to stand up to terrorism and push on with the climate struggle.

"It's an opportunity to stand in solidarity with our oldest ally... and reaffirm our commitment to protect our people and our way of life from terrorist threats," Obama said in a Facebook post before leaving Washington. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – On the birth anniversary of Filipino hero Andres Bonifacio, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada likened himself to the revolutionary, noting their public duty was both cut short.

In a speech commemorating Bonifacio's 152nd birth anniversary on Monday, November 30, Estrada said he shared similar life experiences with the "Great Plebian." (READ: Andres Bonifacio: Myths, trivia, execution)

"Si Gat Andres ay naging artista rin, at madalas ay ginagampanan ang papel ni Bernardo Carpio, tagapag-tanggol ng mga inaapi, sa mga zarzuela ng panahong iyon," he told city officials and employees gathered at the Bonifacio Shrine located beside the Manila City Hall. (Gat Andres used to be an actor, playing Bernardo Carpio in lyrical dramas.)

"Ako naman ay nakilala sa pelikulang Asiong Salonga, ang Robin Hood ng Tondo," he added pointing the coincidence. (Meanwhile, I rose to popularity for playing Asiong Salonga, Tondo's version of Robin Hood.)

But the incumbent mayor turned serious as he recalled his impeachment and eventual ouster from office in 2001, relating it to Bonifacio's removal as the founding father of the Katipunan.

"Ang mapait na pagkaka-tanggal sa akin sa puwesto bilang Pangulo, nangyari din kay Gat Andres nang siya'y patalsikin bilang Supremo ng Katipunan," the incumbent mayor said. (My cruel removal from office as president also happened with hero Andres when he was forcedly removed as the head of the Katipunan [movement.) 

Referring to the hero – known for championing the masses – as his role model, Estrada thought aloud on how Bonifacio could have turned out to be a great leader if "he had lived longer and had not been put to death in Maragondon, Cavite." (READ: His Excellency, President Andres Bonifacio?)

On Duterte: 'Okay lang'

The Manila mayor was also asked about today's hottest election topic, the presidential bid of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. (READ: #AnimatED: The candidacy of Rodrigo Duterte)

"Okay naman. Mabuti maraming choice ang mga botante," Estrada said. (It's just alright. At least the voters have a lot of options.)

But pressed on who among the candidates will get his support, Estrada remained evasive. "Wala pa, 'di ko pa nakikita yung mga platform," he told reporters. (None yet. I haven't seen their platform.)

He's having a hard time choosing since all the presidential bets are his friends, he said. (READ: Erap to run for president if Poe, Binay disqualified) 

"Mayor Duterte is my friend. He used to live in San Juan City when I was mayor. Mar Roxas, on the other hand, was part of my cabinet. Everyone's my friend," he said in Filipino. - Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The president of the Nationalist People’s Coalition assured the tandem of Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero that the party remains “solid” behind them. 

Isabela Representative Giorgidi Aggabao, the head of the 2nd biggest political party in the country, shrugged off issues that some NPC members might shift their support to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte has declared his intention to run for president in 2016, although it remains unclear if the Commission on Elections would allow him to substitute for Martin Diño of the party PDP-Laban due to technicalities. (READ: Duterte faces 1st petition vs presidential bid)

While Aggabao did not discount the possibility of shifting alliances, he said these few politicians would likely come from Duterte’s hometown, Davao City.

"I foresee that there would be crossovers. But they would be negligible I think, confined only to our Davao provinces candidates, if any at all. The support of most NPC remains solid behind Poe-Chiz nationwide," Aggabao told Rappler on Monday, November 30.

Escudero also shrugged off the possibility of losing allies, now that Duterte has decided to run for president. 

“I don’t think so but, then again, in politics anything can happen. We have and will always expect the worst and hope for the best in this campaign,” Escudero said.

While there is no official declaration yet, the NPC is widely believed to be supporting the Poe-Escudero tandem. After all, NPC senatorial bets are running in the Poe-Escudero slate, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian is Poe’s spokesman, and NPC Cebu chairman Ace Durano is the campaign manager. 

NPC senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, for his part, said NPC members usually toe the party line.

“Bihira ang lumilihis. Let’s wait for the official NPC announcement in January,” Sotto said.

(It's rare that somebody deviates from the party decision. Let's wait for the official NPC announcement in January.)

Threat to Poe?

Asked if Duterte is a threat to the candidacies of Poe and Escudero, Aggabao expressed doubts that the people would actually vote for the popular mayor. 

“No worry at all. People will listen to Duterte. His coarse language is amusing to many. But at bottom, I doubt it they will vote for him,” Aggabao said.

Duterte, in an event on Sunday night in Taguig, admitted he is a womanizer and that he has killed a few criminals in his city. The public has expressed both amusement and disgust at his pronouncements.

NPC spokesman and Quezon Representative Mark Enverga admitted Duterte’s entry in the presidential race will change the survey landscape from now on.

This is the same prediction made by Poe, who earlier said Duterte would further divide the votes for all presidential bets.

“We are in the belief that Mayor Duterte’s entry will make changes in survey numbers. As to who among the presidential candidates will be affected by his entry in the race, that has yet to be seen in the upcoming surveys,” Enverga said.

While admitting Duterte is a “serious contender,” Durano said it is too early to predict anything.

“Although we are conscious of how the other candidates are doing, we are focused on the strengths and opportunities of Senators Grace and Chiz. We assess the effectiveness of our campaign on a weekly basis. Necessary adjustments will be made as the need arises,” Durano said.

But Senator Serge Osmeña, a veteran of political campaigns, said Poe would be the "biggest loser" now that Duterte is also running.

Citing a Pulse Asia survey he commissioned in September when the mayor shot down plans of a presidential campaign, Osmeña said a big chunk of Duterte's votes went to Poe.

"Well, because the biggest beneficiary of his withdrawal 2 months ago was Grace Poe, ergo, the biggest loser will be Grace Poe. Noong pag-drop namin kay Mayor Duterte, out of the 17% that he was getting at the time, 9% would go to Grace Poe, tapos iyong balance paghahatian ni Roxas and Binay. So by logical extension, nagtuloy siya, he is going to get from Grace Poe," Osmeña said in a radio interview on Monday, November 30. – Rappler.com

BANGUI, Central African Republic – Pope Francis is set to visit a mosque in a flashpoint area of the Central African Republic's capital on Monday, November 30, as he wraps up his first visit to the continent.

The leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics will meet members of the Muslim community and visit the Koudoukou mosque in the PK5 district, a maze of red dirt roads and flimsy shacks at the heart of recent sectarian violence.

A little after 8 am (0700 GMT) Francis will meet with 5 imams at the mosque, then hold a ceremony nearby intended to promote religious reconciliation.

Wrapping up his 3-country African tour, Francis will then celebrate a huge mass at the capital's 20,000-seat Barthelemy Boganda Stadium before heading back to the Vatican.

The pontiff has hammered home the message of peace during his visit to the Central African Republic, which has been wracked by tit-for-tat violence between Muslim rebels and Christian vigilante groups.

"We are all brothers," the pope said on Sunday, November 29, as he visited a camp housing some 3,000 internally displaced people in the heart of Bangui.

Francis also called for unity, urging people to avoid "the temptation of fear of others, of the unfamiliar, of what is not part of our ethnic group, our political views or our religious denomination".

His message – and the fact that he actually visited the country, despite significant security concerns – struck a chord with locals and drew pledges of peace and forgiveness.

'Ready to forget'

"We should eat together, we should live together with Muslims," said Clarisse Mbai, a mother who lost all her worldly possessions in inter-religious violence.

"They looted everything, they burnt my house and I have nothing but I am ready to forget," she said.

Nicole Ouabangue, whose husband was hacked to death with an axe, said she had heard many speeches before but the pope's words were "different".

"Pope Francis has more influence. If there is anybody who can resolve our problems on Earth, it is him," she said.

The landlocked Central African Republic descended into bloodshed after longtime Christian leader Francois Bozize was ousted by rebels from the mainly Muslim Seleka force in March 2013.

The coup triggered a wave of violence between ex-Seleka members and Christian "anti-balaka" (anti-machete) militias, plunging the former French colony into its worst crisis since independence in 1960.

On Sunday, the 78-year-old pontiff opened a "holy door" during a mass at Bangui Cathedral, marking the beginning of a Jubilee Year dedicated to forgiveness and reconciliation. 

Although the year will formally be inaugurated on December 8, opening the door marked its symbolic start. Until now, such a gesture has only ever taken place in the Church's headquarters in the Vatican or in Rome.

"Bangui has become the spiritual capital of the world," the pontiff said.

The country's interim president Catherine Samba-Panza asked the pope for "forgiveness from the bottom of my heart" for two years of "evil" sectarian violence she dubbed "a descent into hell." – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel Roxas II downplayed reports and speculation that party stalwarts were jumping ship, following the announcement of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s own bid for the presidency. 

“Malaya naman ang bawat mamamayan na piliin kung sino at kanino sila papanig so okay naman ang lahat… maraming [balasahan] pa ito,” Roxas told reporters on Monday, November 30, on the sidelines of the inauguration of a new multipurpose center in Payatas, Quezon City. 

(Each citizen is free to chose which side they’ll align with so everything is okay. There will be more movements to come.)

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In earlier interviews with Rappler, former and current LP allies in Mindanao said they would be supporting the candidacy of Duterte, the only mainstream presidential candidate who hails from Mindanao.

A Duterte candidacy, Mindanao officials said, is a “game-changer” in a presidential election that is already crowded. Aside from Duterte and Roxas, there are least 3 more mainstream bets for the presidency: survey front-runner Senator Grace Poe, opposition leader Vice President Jejomar Binay, and Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago. 

Roxas seemed unaffected by reports of LP allies jumping ship, pointing out that the elections are not about “personality [cults].” 

“Hindi ito para kay Mar Roxas, kay [Camarines Sur Representative] Leni Robredo. Ako panatag ang kalooban ko na ang mga nagtitiwala sa Daang Matuwid, mga nagtitiwala na kayo ang boss, nagtitiwala sa prinsipyo na kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap… sa prinsipyo na inclusive, consultative ang pamunuan… ay patuloy silang kabahagi ng ating Daang Matuwid movement,” Roxas said. 

(This isn’t about Mar Roxas or Leni Robredo. I’m confident that those who believe in Daang Matuwid, those who believe that you are the bosses, those who believe in the principle that if nobody is corrupt, nobody will be impoverished, and those who believe in the principle of inclusive and consultative governance, will continue to be part of the Daang Matuwid movement.)

{source}<blockquote class="twitter-video" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PHvote?src=hash">#PHvote</a>: LP bet <a href="https://twitter.com/MARoxas">@maroxas</a> asked -- is there a need for a &quot;loyalty check&quot; among members in Mindanao? WATCH: <a href="https://t.co/LXXPZRniOv">pic.twitter.com/LXXPZRniOv</a></p>&mdash; Bea Cupin (@beacupin) <a href="https://twitter.com/beacupin/status/671169697656602626">November 30, 2015</a></blockquote>
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As the standard bearer of the ruling Liberal Party, Roxas’ 2016 campaign is centered on the promise of continuing the reforms and supposed gains of the current administration. “Daang Matuwid” is the Aquino administration’s tagline for its transparency, good governance, and anti-corruption platform. 

Roxas said LP members have yet to tell him plans to support a different candidate, but should they decide to, the LP standard bearer said it would be “part of our democracy.” 

“Okay naman (It’s okay),” said a beaming Roxas. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Some say blood is thicker than water. But in Philippine politics, that's not always the case.

Case in point: Outgoing Cebu 5th District Representative Ace Durano is a relative of presidential bet Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Durano's father, Danao City Mayor Ramon Durano III, and Duterte are 2nd degree cousins.

Durano also happens to be the campaign manager of Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero, as well as their senatorial slate. 

But for Durano, there is no conflict. After all, he said, Duterte has not approached their local Bakud party in the 5th District of Cebu, in the same way the party has not declared support for the mayor. 

“It’s a non-issue for Senators Grace and Chiz. Bakud is known to stand on its commitment no matter what,” Durano told Rappler on Monday, November 30. 

In 2013, the political family and their Bakud party forged an alliance with the ruling Liberal Party, with Durano winning a seat in Congress. At the time, the Nationalist People’s Coalition, the country's 2nd biggest political party, was still a strong administration ally. Now, NPC is widely believed to be supporting the Poe-Escudero tandem. 

While Bakud already endorsed LP bets Hilario “Junjun” Davide III for Cebu governor and Agnes Magpale for vice governor in 2016, they are now backing the candidacies of Poe and Escudero for the two highest national posts. 

“Key leaders of Bakud committed to Senators Grace and Chiz already. And Bakud will work as one for the candidacy of Senators Grace and Chiz when the campaign starts,” Durano said.

‘Full trust’

Poe’s camp has considered Duterte “a strong” contender. Poe earlier said Duterte’s entry in the presidential race would further divide the votes among presidential bets. (READ: Grace Poe: Let Rodrigo Duterte run for president)

But the front runner in the presidential race said she has no questions on Durano’s support for her, amid his blood ties with the popular mayor.

“I respect and have full trust and confidence in Representative Ace. Our bond is based on our common goals for the good of the country,” Poe told Rappler in a text message.

Her running mate Escudero echoed Poe’s sentiment, saying they have already discussed the issue months ago.

“He is the campaign manager of the Senate slate and in Cebu and part of the campaign central committee that handles our campaign. It is not an issue and we have already discussed this possibility or eventuality even before Mayor Duterte declared [his presidential bid],” Escudero said.

To further prove their point, Poe’s spokesman Rex Gatchalian said that when Poe met with the Duranos and local party leaders in October, it was a “clear” sign of their agreement on “where to take the country.” 

“We don’t think it’s a cause for concern. Cong. Ace and Sen. Poe share common advocacies and vision for the country. This common vision for the country led to Cong. Ace signing up as campaign manager of PGP [Partido Galing at Puso]. He is fully behind the candidacies of Sen. Poe and Sen. Escudero,” Gatchalian said. – Rappler.com

DENVER, USA – A man arrested over a shooting spree that killed 3 people and wounded 9 at a family planning center in Colorado Springs in the United States makes his first court appearance on Monday.

The nearly six-hour standoff Friday again put US gun culture in the spotlight and triggered renewed scrutiny of Planned Parenthood, a network of not-for-profit women's health care clinics that offer pregnancy checkups, contraceptives and abortions.

Robert Lewis Dear, 57, a bearded drifter who surrendered to police at the scene, is expected to eventually face state charges of murder and attempted murder.

Dear will appear before a judge at the El Paso County Jail and the hearing starts at 1:30 pm (2030 GMT).

Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers told ABC's "This Week" talk show on Sunday that police have yet to say what Dear told them during questioning regarding his motive.

NBC News, citing two law enforcement officials, reported that Dear mentioned "no more baby parts" when questioned.

When asked if he thought the clinic was the target, Suthers said: "It certainly appears that way."

Police named the two civilians killed as Jennifer Markovsky, 35, and Ke'Arre Marcell Stewart, 29.

Stewart was an Iraq War army veteran and the father of two young daughters, while Markovsky, a Hawaii native, had a boy and a girl. Both were accompanying friends at the clinic, US media reported, citing relatives.

The third victim was previously identified as Garrett Swasey, 44, a campus officer at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs who had raced to the scene of the shooting. 

Swasey was a former top ice skater who trained and became friends with US Olympic skater Nancy Kerrigan.

Several vigils were held over the weekend in Colorado Springs, the state's second-largest city and a place known for its conservative politics and fundamental religious organizations.

Colorado Springs, which was blanketed by snow as the drama unfolded over several hours into the early evening Friday, is also ringed by 3 military bases and the US Air Force Academy.

President Barack Obama on Saturday declared "enough is enough," as he called for tighter controls to stop the "easy accessibility of weapons of war" to "people who have no business wielding them."

'Damage has been done'

There were also calls for better protection for groups that provide abortions, a procedure that remains highly divisive in the United States.

Critics, many of whom seek to outlaw abortion in the United States, have falsely accused Planned Parenthood of selling fetal organs and body parts for profit, and encouraging women to have abortions in order to expand such operations.

Planned Parenthood receives some government funding but little of that goes for abortion procedures. 

"We need to call the threats of violence and the intimidation of health care providers and patients what it is – domestic terrorism," Karen Middleton, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado, said in a statement.

"More public officials in Colorado and across the country, not just advocacy groups and the people on the frontlines, need to take a stand opposing domestic terrorism and supporting women's health."

Joy Garscadden, a long-time Planned Parenthood advocate, told The Denver Post at one vigil: "I don't know if this guy is anything other than your run-of-the-mill psycho person with easy access to weapons.

"It doesn't matter. The damage has been done."

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains CEO and president Vicki Cowart praised the 15 clinic employees "who did what they needed to do to protect everyone in the building."

The clinic had been targeted by repeated protests and had a sophisticated security system in place that police were able to tap into to follow the gunman inside the building, said Suthers, the mayor.

The shooting was the second in weeks in Colorado Springs to leave several victims.

On Halloween, a man armed with a semi-automatic rifle, a revolver and a pistol gunned down a bicyclist and two women at a house for women fighting alcoholism and drug abuse. 

He was killed shortly after in an exchange of gunfire with police. – Jeanie Stokes, AFP/Rappler.com

KABUL, Afghanistan – The United States warned its citizens in Kabul Monday, November 30, of an "imminent attack" in the city within the next two days, amid renewed official efforts to revive stalled peace talks with the Taliban.

The US embassy in Kabul urged extreme caution during this period of "heightened threat" but gave no details on potential targets or methods of the planned attack.

"US embassy Kabul has received credible reports of an imminent attack in Kabul... within the next 48 hours," it said in an emergency warning posted on its website.

"The security situation in Afghanistan is extremely unstable, and the threat to all US citizens in Afghanistan remains critical."

The embassy frequently issues such emergency warnings but the latest post comes as the leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan are expected to meet on the sidelines of a UN conference in Paris.

The meeting between Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani could be a possible first step towards resuming Islamabad-brokered Taliban peace talks.

"A meeting between (Sharif) and (Ghani) on the sidelines of the UN climate change conference is likely," a Pakistani official said on condition of anonymity.

He said that Pakistan was ready to facilitate an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process, but there was no immediate reaction from Kabul.

"Islamabad firmly believes the meeting... will have a positive impact on regional peace and help Islamabad and Kabul to further strengthen their ties," the official said.

Pakistan, which wields considerable influence over the militants, hosted a historic first round of negotiations in July but the talks stalled soon thereafter when the Taliban confirmed the death of their longtime leader Mullah Omar. 

The United States and China have been pushing for the process to restart, but frosty ties between Islamabad and Kabul have been hampering those efforts.

Kabul has turned increasingly bitter over Islamabad's backing for the resurgent Taliban, who have intensified attacks on Afghan government and foreign targets in recent months.  – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – “Propaganda lang 'to eh (It’s just propaganda).”

Liberal Party spokesman and Caloocan Representative Edgar Erice dismissed talk of party members abandoning the party’s standard-bearer in favor of Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, November 30, saying the talk was just “propaganda.”

“Nangyari na before, during the announcement of Senator [Grace] Poe. Sinabi maraming LP mag-jujump ship pero wala naman. Ngayon naman, maraming LP pupunta kay Duterte pero wala namang significant number or name na sinasabi sila,” Erice told reporters at the party headquarters in Cubao, Quezon City.

(It happened before, when Senator Grace Poe announced she was running for president. They said a lot of LP members would jump ship but nobody did. Now they’re saying a lot of LP members will ally with Duterte but no significant numbers or names are being said.)

At the same time, however, Erice said that party members planning to support other candidates should just leave. 

“Nananawagan rin ako [doon sa] mga LP: kung susuporta kayo ng ibang kandidato, dapat magbitiw sa Liberal Party dahil isa sa mga sinumpaan namin bilang mga miyembro ng Liberal Party ay ipanalo ang aming mga kandidato,” Erice said.

(I call on our LP members: if you’re supporting other candidates, it’s time you leave the party because one of our oaths is to make sure our candidates win.)

The LP has Manuel Roxas II as its standard-bearer and Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo as its vice presidential bet. Its 12-person line-up, meanwhile, is composed of 6 party members and 6 allies of the ruling party.

All out for Duterte?

A handful of LP allies in Mindanao have talked about the likelihood of changing allegiances now that the Davao mayor finally decided to gun for the highest elective post. Duterte is the only presidential aspirant from Mindanao in a race of at least 5 leading candidates. (READ: LP defections for Duterte? 'That's how democracy works,' says Roxas)

Both Roxas and Erice, in separate interviews, said none of the LP members in Mindanao have expressed to them plans of jumping ship.

“Political propaganda lang ito. Kasi alam mo, unlike their parties, talagang mabibilang mo sa sa daliri ang mga miyembro. Kami talagang mahihirapan dahil [we have] thousands of members,” quipped Erice.

(It’s just political propaganda. Unlike them, whose members can be counted using your fingers, we in the LP will have a difficult time because we have thousands of members.)

The LP is the country’s ruling party. President Benigno Aquino III is the chairman of the party.

Pundits have speculated that a Duterte candidacy would affect Roxas’ numbers the most. Duterte is the strongest presidential bet in Mindanao, based on recent surveys, and is also supposedly strong in Metro Manila, if a privately-commissioned survey is to be believed.

Roxas, meanwhile, is weak in Mindanao according to latest surveys but is the leading candidate in the Visayas. The LP standard-bearer traces his roots to two provinces in the area – Capiz on his father’s side and Negros Occidental on his mother’s side. (READ: Roxas' pitch to mayors in Iloilo: I'll give you a Visayas president)

But while Duterte has been Davao mayor for over two decades, he traces his roots to Maasin, Southern Leyte.

“Of course at this point, wala namang runaway winner eh so makaka-apekto, di lang natin alam kung paano makaka-apekto ang pagpasok niya (We don’t have a runaway winner so Duterte may affect the landscape but we don’t know how),” said Erice.

Taking a jab at the months-long “Duterteserye,” or Duterte’s flip-flopping on a presidential run, Erice added: “It’s not over until it’s over. Nagbabago ang utak ni mayor, mahirap i-predict. Baka bukas naman ay ayaw na niya (His mind changes all the time, it’s hard to predict. Maybe tomorrow, he’ll change his mind again.)” 

Duterte did not file his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for president during the week the Commission on Elections (Comelec) set for its filing. Instead, back in October, he filed his COC as re-electionist mayor of Davao.

The Davao mayor intends on being the substitute candidate for PDP-Laban standard-bearer Martin Diño, who has since withdrawn his candidacy. The validity of Diño’s candidacy is also being questioned. 

Davao 4th worse in crime? 

Erice also criticized Duterte's peace and order track record  as "hyped," saying that if the country's crime index in 2014 is to be made as basis, Davao was the 4th highest when it came to reported crime incidents. 

Citing data from the Philippine National Police, Erice showed reporters data that indicated Davao trailed Quezon City, Manila, and Zamboanga City in terms of crimes reported.

Davao has a population of over 1.5 million, according to the latest government data while Quezon City, which had the most reported crime incidents, has over 2.8 million residents. According to data presented by Erice, Davao recorded over 18,000 crime incidents in 2014. 

"Paano magiging pinakatahimik kung #4 sa mga insidente ng krimen ang Davao City? Bakit sa dami ng pinatay ay pang-apat pa rin sa pinakamaraming krimen ang Davao City (How is Davao City the most peaceful city in the country when they're #4 in terms of crime incidents? How come despite all the kilings, Davao is still ranked #4)?" said Erice, who added that Caloocan City, which he represents, only ranked 12. 

Caloocan has roughly the same population as Davao. 

"Bakit naman kailangan i-point out ito? Ngayon lang siguro kailangan pag-usapan dahil gusto maging pangulo eh at sinasabi niya na isa sa kanyang number one advocacy ay crime solution," said Erice when asked why this data did not become public earlier. (Why do we need to point this out? Now might be a good time to talk about it because he wants to be president and he's saying that his number one advocacy is crime solution.) – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – A vice president is not a spare tire – nor is she someone who should use the position to prepare to take over the country's top post.

Asked how she saw the role of a vice president during the #AngPagsusuri forum at the University of the Philippines-Diliman on Monday, November 30, Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo said a vice president should on the job and not use the office to gain mileage in preparation for a presidential bid.

"Ang vice president hindi dapat nag-aambisyon maging presidente, dapat naka-concentrate sa trabaho," Robredo said, drawing applause from the audience. (A vice president should not aspire to be president, but concentrate on the job.)

The neophyte lawmaker is running for vice president with the ruling Liberal Party, alongside the administration's standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II. 

Robredo did not mention any candidate, later telling reporters that it was not meant to allude to anyone in particular. The other vice-presidential bet who was in the forum was Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero, running mate of presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe.

"Traditionally, it seems presumed that a vice president will aspire to be president. But I think that as soon as the vice president aspires for higher office, he will not be able to take advantage of his own position to help others," she said.

"Oras na mag-ambisyon na siya, gagamitin na niya most probably ang kanyang position para mangampanya. Pero pag walang ganoon ambisyon, mas pure ang intention, mas pure ang loob para sa paninilbihan," she added. 

(Once he becomes ambitious, he will most probably use his position to campaign. But if there is no such ambition, the intention and will to serve is pure.)

Inspirational role

While some brand the vice presidential post as a "spare tire," Robredo said she saw the role differently. 

"The role of a vice president is more inspirational, to draw national attention to advocacies that need to be pushed," Robredo said. (READ: The Leader I Want: Leni Robredo’s to-fix list for 2016)

She said the country's second highest post is an opportunity to bring to the national spotlight the needs of sectors that have long been ignored by the national government.

In previous speeches, Robredo has long espoused a style of leadership that invited citizen participation. Citing her late husband's leadership of Naga City, the lawmaker said she wanted to push for a grassroots style of governance that would involve the public in the policy making processes of their leaders.

If elected as vice president, Robredo said she plans to continue her husband's hands-on approach: to be seen on the ground, helping out the poor and the marginalized.

"If I am fortunate, I hope to be a vice president who will not just be in office in Manila, but be seen in the provinces. It's time to bring focus to those long left behind," she said. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – A senior police official whose claim to fame was an infamous outburst against the country’s top cop is now regional director of the newly-created Negros Island Region (NIR).

Chief Superintendent Conrad Capa officially assumed his new post as officer-in-charge of the brand-new Police Regional Office (PRO) 18 on Monday, November 30. PRO 18 is the newest regional office in the Philippine National Police (PNP), following the creation of the NIR earlier this year.

Present during the “soft launch” of the new regional office inside Camp Alfredo Montelibano in Bacolod City was PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez. PRO 18 will have supervision of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Bacolod City, according to the PNP.

Prior to his new post, Capa was Executive Officer of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations-Visayas after working at the Cebu Provincial Police Office.

In early 2014, Capa, then a Senior Superintendent, was head of “Task Force Tugis,” a special group formed to hunt down the PNP’s most wanted. In March last year, Capa led his team in the arrest of businessman Delfin Lee.

Capa made headlines after publicly criticizing the PNP’s chief then, Director General Alan Purisima, following his unceremonious sacking from his post. (READ: PNP lied to Palace, says sacked Delfin Lee captor)

It's seldom that officers in the PNP publicly lash out against more senior officials.

Purisima has since been suspended from his post and eventually dismissed from the uniformed service following a string of corruption allegations.– Rappler.com

PARIS, France – An unprecedented meeting at the Paris climate conference started earlier than planned on Sunday afternoon, November 29.

Members of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP), which is tasked to craft an important negotiating text of the COP21 or the Conference of Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, gathered in the Le Loire room for a two-hour meeting that started at 5 pm.

Speaking on Rappler’s Facebook Live before the meeting started, Purple Romero, a member of the Philippines delegation, said that the week-long meeting will tackle issues of climate change mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology development and transfer, capacity-building, and transparency of action and support.

Emerging from the meeting two hours later, Philippine negotiators expressed optimism the talks have a good chance to succeed.

'They wanted to go straight to negotiations. It’s a good sign,” Alicia Ilaga, Director of the Climate Change Office of the Department of Agriculture, told Rappler.

The Philippine delegation is composed of at least 50 members from government and civil society organizations. (READ: PH team 'fully prepared' for Paris climate summit)

Ilaga, who has attended 6 COPs in the past, recalled how COP21 chair Laurent Fabius stressed the "urgency of coming out with a draft agreement that is ambitious and legally binding.”

France, which is hosting the climate conference, wants to finish the negotiating text by Thursday, December 3, two days earlier than scheduled.

The Philippine government is calling for an "ambitious, legally-binding, and robust Paris agreement.”

This means that the country supports a deal that aims at keeping global warming below 2°C, the disastrous tipping point of climate change.

On Monday, November 30, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III joined about 146 other heads of state as they officially kicked off the two-week summit in Paris that seeks to forge humanity's action plan against global warming. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman has filed graft charges against 11 former Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) officials over the alleged anomalous award of a project in 2004.

The Ombudsman filed one count of graft before the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan against former officials Winston Garcia, president; Enriqueta Disuanco, executive vice president for operations; Benjamin Vivas Jr, senior vice president for information technology; and retired Supreme Court Justice Hermogenes Concepcion Jr, chairman of the board of trustees.

The others are former GSIS trustees Elmer Bautista, Fulgencio Factoran, Florino Ibañez, Aida Nocete, Reynaldo Palmiery, Elenita Tumala-Martinez, and Leonora Vasquez-de Jesus.

The Ombudsman said the former GSIS officials took “advantage of their official positions through manifest partiality or evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence” by awarding the GSIS eCard project to the Union Bank of the Philippines in May 2004, “without complying with the requirements/procedures” provided by law.

It said the former officials violated oSection 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. 

The Ombudsman said they also violated Section 49 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 9184, or the Government Procurement  Reform Act, when they awarded the project to Union Bank “despite the fact the closing date for submission of bid proposals has not been closed and prior to the recommendation of the Committee tasked to evaluate the proposals.”

The GSIS describes the eCard  as "by far, the most innovative government-issued identification card today." It is not only a GSIS membership ID Card, but is also a GSIS transactional card, disbursement card, ATM Card, VISA debit card, hospitalization discount card, medicine discount card, and tuition discount card, among others. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – A United Nations-backed arbitral tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands, junked the request of the United States to watch the recent hearing on Manila’s case against Beijing.

This is because the US has not ratified the so-called Constitution for the Oceans, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). 

“A request by the United States of America to send an observer was declined as the United States of America is not a party to the Convention,” the tribunal said in a statement sent to reporters Tuesday, December 1. 

The hearing on the merits of the Philippines’ case ended on Monday, November 30. (READ: Philippines: China to build ‘Berlin Wall of the Sea’)

Earlier, the Philippines’ lead counsel against China, Paul Reichler, said it is a “disgrace” that the US has not ratified UNCLOS. 

After all, he said, the US is “a great power” that “asserts important strategic interests in the South China Sea,” the subject of Manila’s case against Beijing. 

Reichler also challenged the US to ratify UNCLOS to pressure China to heed this sea convention.

China remains locked in a dispute with the Philippines and other claimant countries over the South China Sea, which the Philippines calls the West Philippine Sea.  

China is asserting its claim over the West Philippine Sea using the so-called 9-dash line, a demarcation that the Philippines says is baseless under UNCLOS. (READ: EXPLAINER: Philippines’ 5 arguments vs China)

UK ‘granted permission’

While the US couldn’t watch the hearing on the sea dispute, however, the tribunal allowed other countries to do so.

In its statement Tuesday, the tribunal added that the United Kingdom “was granted permission to observe the proceedings, although it ultimately chose not to do so.”

The tribunal said the following countries received permission to watch the hearing, and “attended the hearing: as observers:

• Australia
• Indonesia
• Japan
• Malaysia
• Singapore
• Thailand
• Vietnam

This is more than the number of observers when the tribunal held its first round of hearings on the case from July 7 to 13.

Back then, only 5 countries sent observers to the hearing, which sought to determine the tribunal's right to hear the Philippines' case.

In his closing remarks on Monday, Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario thanked these observer-countries “for their presence.” 

“Other countries, too, are watching to see what this tribunal will do,” Del Rosario said.

The hearing from November 24 to 30 involved the merits of the Philippines' case.

The Philippines presented its oral arguments, which revolved around the Philippines’ right to fish and exploit resources in the disputed West Philippine Sea.

China, on the other hand, refused to join the proceedings because the tribunal supposedly has no right to hear the Philippines’ case. – Rappler.com

Supporters of the Duterte-Cayetano tandem hold a concert dubbed "Musicians and Artists for Change" on Sunday, November 29. 

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and vice-presidential candidate pumped up the crowd, saying "Change is coming."

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte also addressed his supporters by making jokes and telling anecdotes in his lengthy speech.

Watch the highlights of the event here. - Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz on Tuesday, December 1, reminded companies to give their employees their 13th month pay on or before December 24. 

“Dapat bayaran ng mga employer ang 13th month pay ng kanilang manggagawa, anuman ang uri ng trabaho nito, at ito ay walang kinalaman sa pamamaraan kung paano ibinibigay ang sahod, basta ang kanilang manggagawa ay nakapagtrabaho ng higit sa isang buwan ng kasalukuyang taon,” Baldoz said on Tuesday, the start of DOLE’s week-long celebration of its 82nd anniversary. 

(Employers should give the 13th month pay to their employees who have worked for at least a month in the current year, regardless of the type of job or the manner by which the salary is being given.)

Under the Labor Code, all rank-and-file employees are entitled to receive 13th month pay, which is equivalent to the “total basic salary earned during the year divided by 12 months.”

The 13th month pay does not include the following:

• Cost-of-living allowances 
• Profit-sharing payments
• Equivalent amount for unused vacation and sick leave credits
• Overtime pay
• Premium pay
• Night shift differential pay
• Holiday pay
• Allowances and other monetary benefits not part of the basic salary

“Kung ito ay hindi mababayaran sa takdang araw, ang 13th month pay ay dapat nang hingin at singilin (If this is not paid on the specified day, employees should demand it from their employers),” said Baldoz.

At a press briefing on Tuesday, Labor Undersecretary Nicon Fameronag advised workers “who are not being paid the 13th month pay to go to the nearest DOLE field office and file a request for assistance.”

DOLE will then activate its single-entry approach, wherein a DOLE representative acts as the mediator between the employer and the employee in a 30-day mandatory conciliation-mediation process. The approach is designed to effect settlement between the contending parties without having to go to court.

Companies are also required by law to submit their compliance report on the 13th month pay to DOLE before January 15, 2016.

Shorter moratium period

Meanwhile, Fameronag said that no workplace inspection and assessment in the National Capital Region (NCR) under the Labor Laws Compliance System (LLCS) will be conducted from December 30, 2015, to January 10, 2016. 

This means that no labor laws compliance officers should be doing an assessment of workplaces during the said period.

“This is to ensure and to avoid suspicion na ang mga labor laws compliance officers are Christmas caroling. Every year ganun naman talaga until the secretary lifts the moratorium ng mga late January,” Fameronag told reporters. 

(This is to ensure and to avoid suspicion that our LLCOs are asking for Christmas caroling. That’s the policy every year until the secretary lifts the moratorium late January.) 

The government considers the LLCS as a revolutionary reform in DOLE’s system of monitoring the compliance of businesses with labor laws.

Fameronag explained that the moratorium period normally lasts for a month, but DOLE needed to shorten the period for the LLCS to meet its targets for 2015 in NCR. (READ: Metro Manila needs more labor laws compliance officers)

DOLE Administrative Order No. 568, Series of 2015, directs the DOLE-NCR regional director to “ensure that 2,980 establishments be covered from November 2015 until the suspension of the joint assessment activities.” – Rappler.com

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – The leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to work together to revive stalled peace talks with Taliban insurgents after meeting on the sidelines of a climate change conference in Paris, officials said.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani met Monday, November 30, amid heightened tensions over Kabul's accusations that Islamabad aided the Taliban in their brief capture of the northern Afghan city of Kunduz in late September. 

Pakistan, which wields considerable influence over the militants, hosted a historic first round of peace negotiations in July.

But the talks stalled soon thereafter when the Taliban belatedly confirmed the death of their longtime leader Mullah Omar. 

The United States and China have been pushing for the process to restart, but frosty ties between Islamabad and Kabul have been hampering those efforts.

A Pakistan government statement late Monday said Ghani and Sharif had discussed the negotiations while they were in Paris. 

"Both leaders agreed to work with all those who would enter such a process as legitimate political actors and act, alongside the Afghan government, against those who refuse to take the path of peace," the statement said.  

Hopes for better ties were high after Ghani's election last year. But they have since plummeted, with Kabul blaming Islamabad for a surge in Taliban violence in 2015.

The Pakistani statement said Monday's talks were held "in an atmosphere of warmth and cordiality". 

Sharif also met his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at the conference, the government said in a statement issued in Paris late Monday. 

"The Indian Prime Minister approached Premier Nawaz Sharif and had a brief meeting with him," the statement said, adding that the leaders seemed "friendly" and parted with a "warm handshake".

India and Pakistan have been arch-rivals since gaining independence from Britain in 1947 and have fought three wars.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, Sharif outlined a 4-point initiative to ease tensions between the two nuclear-armed countries. – Rappler.com

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE – Pope Francis said Monday, November 30, it was "now or never" for the world community to hammer out a deal on climate change, warning the situation was "borderline suicide".

"It's now or never," the Argentine said as the heads of more than 150 nations kicked off 12 days of talks in the French capital to negotiate a deal to roll back global warming.

Since the Kyoto Protocol on climate change was adopted in 1997, "little has been accomplished" and "every year the problems get more serious," he told journalists at a press conference on the papal plane during his return from a trip to Africa.

Sometimes it appears, "to use a strong word, that the situation is borderline suicide", he said.

"Almost everyone at the Paris talks wants a deal to be done. I am confident they will do it," he said.

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<h4>#COP21: The Rappler climate coverage</h4>

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The pope is a fierce defender of the environment, publishing a hard-hitting thesis on the topic this year and laying the blame for global warming squarely on man's shoulders.

Climate change fuels poverty, migration, sickness and war, he says, and fossil fuels should be abandoned in an energy revolution paid for largely by developed countries.

The Vatican is being represented at the opening of the COP21 talks by its secretary of state Pietro Parolin, the Holy See's number two.

The negotiations, taking place under the banner of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, are due to wrap up on December 11.

A deal is far from guaranteed: potential stumbling blocks range from providing finance for climate-vulnerable and poor countries to scrutiny of commitments to curb greenhouse gases and even the legal status of the accord. – Rappler.com